Gerard has always wanted his own country. His first attempt at the age of
13 was to declare his pencil box as an independent state. This was brought to
an end when his teacher ‘destroyed’ it. With the help of Shane and that of the
audience he will attempt to do so again. The
audience will be asked to take part in the development of this new nation as
Gerard and Shane declare independence from Canada. Hilarious structured
improvisational satire on separatism that reminds of This Hour has 22 Minutes
and Royal Canadian Air Farce (2 classic satirical Canadian comedy series). As
usual Shane delivered his various characters with fluid dexterity.

Montreal based band formed in 2010 led by Ariel Ridgeway on guitar and
vocals is a Franco-Quebecois group made up of diverse cultural origins. The music
is composed by Ariel Ridgeway. It is a diverse crossbreeding of the different
colours and influences from the other members of the group. The harmony amongst the members of the band is
easily seen, – both vocally and instrumentally – and their
social interactions. Ariel shows dexterity in his guitar playing and excellent
vocal delivery – and with persistence could easily become a force to reckon
with on the Quebec music scene.

Humorist
Fred Dubé delivers an absurdist show exposing who the true ‘terrorists’ are in
the world today. The delivery was fast and often funny but due to some unfamiliarity
with some of the issues covered, I missed the point a number of times but many
in the audience did not, judging by the outbursts of laughter.

Using
humour as a compass, Serge Yvan Bourque’s most recent theatrical monologue mixes
psychology, personal experiences, absurdity and buffoonery with songs
interpreted by singer-songwriter-guitarist Philish. Serge takes the audience on
an existential and introspective journey to seek out one’s place in the world:
what is our purpose in life? Is there a greater force who can be our guide? Is
there really an answer?

Originally from the French Alps, singer-songwriter
Gaële has adopted Quebec as her home. Last night’s solo concert (the first of 4
– tonight and tomorrow at 20:30 and the 21st at 19:00 at Katacombes)
with a little help from the sound booth and pyrotechnics was revelatory,
engaging and thrilling. Her voice was hauntingly beautiful with the full range
of sonority and pitch, at once both soothing and stimulating. Her self-accompaniment
on piano was well timed and in complete harmony. The sound was full bodied and
the show had the right amount of theatrics.

Written and performed by / écrite et interprétée par Nancy Kenny
Directed by /Mise-en-scènepar Tania Levy

Amy
has just turned 30. She loves watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to the dismay of her younger sister
Julie. For her birthday, Julie takes Amy out to see her next roller derby
match. This ignites a desire in Amy to finally do something and she signs up
for the roller derby team changing her life forever. A light-hearted one-woman comedy indicating
that within all of is a hero just waiting for the right trigger for it to be
awakened. Even when Nancy K would be skating around the stage, she would
deliver her lines with impeccable wit and balance.

Saturday, 13 July 2013

A run-down of all the films seen at this year’s festival. As
time permits a more extensive critique (features only) will appear under the
label “Film Box-Office.” They
will be identified with the Fantasia 2013 logo.

11-year-old Delphis lives in an underprivileged
neighbourhood. Calling himself ‘the Hurricane’ he lives by his own rules and
answers to no one. He takes what he wants with no regards. A crude black comedy
that deals with social status.

This disturbing
Kafkaesque film centers on Laura, a young woman who begins a descent into hell
when she awakes one morning with a strange patch on her body. Initially
ignoring it, just a bruise inflicted by Antoine, her abusive boyfriend;
mysterious ailment spreads; she slowly thanatamorphoses (Hellenic term for
decomposes). An appropriate score performed by the Guild of Funerary Violinists,
who since being founded in 1586, have dedicated themselves to preserving music
composed to accompany the laying to rest the ‘dearly departed.’ An assault on
the senses superbly guaranteed to bring the viewer to the edge of being
unbearable.

Against
all odds, Harris Glenn Milstead (1945-1988), a.k.a. his stage name
Divine, transformed himself from a bullied fat kid to a larger-than-life
celebrity without ever selling out to Hollywood or society’s standards. Divine
first made a name for himself by becoming underground filmmaker John Waters
muse. Through the use of film clips, music videos, TV interviews and personal
recollections from those who knew and loved him best, Schwarz superbly weaves
the ultimate underdog story. The message is; anyone can
climb the highest mountain and cross the deepest ocean if the will is there.

Hong Kong director
Johnny To has returned to what he does best – sophisticated, gripping action
thrillers that never fail to be exhilarating with enough twists and surprises
in the plot to keep one on the edge of one’s seat. As with most of To’s films, keeping
track of who is who is ‘hard work’ but pleasurable. In China, manufacturing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by
death. When drug cartel head Timmy Choi is arrested, he pleads with lead vice
officer to lower his sentence if he would lead the police to other cartel
leaders and associates.

Bad Film,
Japan / Japon 2012, 161m, Sion Sono Edited from over 150 hours of
lost footage shot in 1995 guerilla style on Tokyo’s streets,contains the genesis of many of Sion Sono’s (who
also played the lead role) cinematic trademarks. Set in an alternate Japan, in
the Koenji neighbourhood of Tokyo against the backdrop of returning Hong Kong’s
sovereignty to China in 1997. It is about a vicious gang war between the
Japanese Kamikaze and the Chinese Baihubang. The film was shot, using Hi-8
video, but had no money to complete it in post-production. It is a perfect example of art-house DIY filmmaking,
loud abrasive and subversive.

Bad Milo,
United States / États-Unis 2012, 85m, Jacob Vaughn Life can often be a ‘pain in the
ass’ for most of us but in the case of Duncan Hayslip it is literal. Duncan suffers
from severe gastrointestinal pain. Everyone says that it is due to stress and
that he should just relax. Though stressed from all angles of life, his ‘anal
anguish’ is the result of a creature that is ‘cute’ like ET but terrifying like
a Mayan Demon with chainsaw teeth and a murderous propensity. It has taken up
residence in his colon. When Duncan is overwhelmed, ‘ Milo’ exits, wreaks havoc
and returns ‘home.’

Halley, Mexico / Mexique 2012, 84m, Sebastian Hofmann Beto’s life is joyless and
monotonous, consumed by deep depression. He works as a security guard during the
graveyard shift and watches television the rest of the time. He prefers to
avoid human contact and keeps trying to resign from his job, citing health
issues. It seems that our friend Beto is waiting for death to come but the
reality is: it already has! His efforts of trying to hide his condition are
becoming harder to cover up as his body decomposes. To complicate matters even
more is that his boss Lulu forms an unusual friendship with him.

My Pain is
Worse than Your Pain, United States / Etats-Unis 2013, 16m, Adam Hall A romantically obsessed man’s
irresponsible behaviour results in giving him pain. Des comportements irresponsable d’un homme romantiquement obsédé aboutir en lui
donnant des douleurs. See You
Tommorrow Everyone, Japan / Japon 2012, 120m, Yoshihiro Nakamura In 1981, Satoru Watarai is about
to graduate primary school. This would mean leaving the cozy little autonomous
community, called the Projects, in Furoko Japan and entering the larger world
of junior high. Yet Satoru experienced a shocking event that leaves him
mentally and physically marooned in the Furoko housing project. In 1981, 107
students graduated. As the years go by, we see the number of remaining students
dwindle and the pressure on Satoru is increasing. Factor in as well the
changing demographics ... can Satoru ever cross that seemingly impenetrable
barrier into the world outside his own?

The
Decelerators, Canada 2012, 5m, Mark Slutsky A group of friends in their late
20s decide to work at a means to decelerate time. They try everything. When
they finally succeed, they decide to use the technology at the moment each
individual decides. However, the last one remaining would have to stay in normal
time. Un groupe d'amis dans leurs vingtaines tardives décident de trouver un
moyen de ralentir le temps. Ils essayent tout. Quand ils réussissent finalement,
ils décident d'utiliser la technologie au moment que chacun décide. Cependant, le dernier restant devra rester en temps
normal. The 4 Soldiers / Les 4 Soldats, Canada 2013, 87m, Robert Morin Due to a devastating civil war a
whole generation of children have had to grow up without a family. This is a
tale of four soldiers, Matéo, Dominique, Big Max and Kevin,who have been robbed of their childhood and
their families, who meet and bond with each other in an attempt to survive a
war that they do not understand and are reluctant participants. Together the
four will form an unbreakable family until Gabriel arrives. Can Gabriel be
integrated into the ‘family’ and share its secrets? Can the ‘family’ survive if
‘war’ takes one of them away?

When a Wolf
Falls In Love with a Sheep, Taiwan / Taïwan 2012, 85m, Hou Chi-Jan This light-weight colourful
romantic comedy is about two incongruous personalities gravitating towards each
other. When Tung’s girlfriend suddenly leaves him, he moves overtop a photocopy
shop on Nanyang Street (Taipei’s best-known area for private tutoring schools).
He begins to work at the shop; often delivering exam sheets to Sure Win School.
Though most of the students ignore teaching assistant Yang’s habit of drawing little
sheep cartoons on the exam sheets, Tung does not. On a whim he draws a wolf on
the master copy which accidently gets sent to the school. Shows that even the
small things can engage.

À la fin de chaque histoire une déclaration du
moral voulu.Imaginaerium,
Finland / Finlande / Canada 2012, 85m, Stobe Harju / Mark Roper Dark fantasy made in conjunction
with the Finnish group Nightwish’s concept album of the same name. While Tom, a
former composer, lies in a coma approaching death, his subconscious mind sets
out to find long-lost memories. While Tom is exploring the dark recesses of his
imaginative mind, his bitter and distant daughter struggles to cope with the
imminence of her father’s (a man whom she barely knows) death and re-establish
a connection with him. A nightmarish peek into the subconscious mind of a dying
man along the lines of Neil Gaiman’s the
Sandman and the world of David Lynch.

009 Re: Cyborg, Japan / Japon 2012, 104m, Kenji Kamiyama An intricately detailed
multi-layered anime blending philosophy with intense action. A group of unknown
terrorists have been blowing up the world’s skyscrapers. An entity called ‘His
Voice’ has been identified as the trigger for these attacks. To combat the
situation, a currently dormant team of cyborg led by Joe Shimamura (codenamed
009) have been reactivated. Is it a modern day conspiracy to unleash a very
profitable global conflict or an ancient mystery?

HK /
Forbidden Super Hero, Japan / Japon 2013, 105m, Yuichi Fukuda Kyosuke, born to a cop father who
had a thirst for justice and a dominatrix mother who had a perverted soul is
shy, lacks self-confidence and considers himself ‘normal’. When Aiko transfers
into his homeroom class, she instantly becomes the object of his affection.
When he discovers that she has been taken hostage, he desperately wants to save
her. To hide his identity he puts on a used panty on his face and Hentai Kamen
(literally ‘Masked Pervert’) is born to carry out justice. Extremely funny and
irreverent ode to Super Heroes, a guaranteed pleasure ride.

The Rooftop,
Taiwan / Taïwan 2013, 122m, Jay Chou A martial arts musical that could
be Taiwan’s answer to West Side Story. In an imaginary city called Galilee. The
city consists of two contrasting communities. One resides on the rooftops. They
are poor but they are happy and without worries. The other resides on the
ground and is affluent and powerful but not happy. The West Side Story
connection happens when Wax, a rooftop dweller, meets Starling, an up-and-coming
actress / singer. Their love is tested when a power struggle breaks out in the
City Housing Authority, a triad. Bright, colourful and tightly
choreographed song and dance numbers.

Une comédie musicale d’arts martiaux qui
pourrait être la réponse de Taiwan à West Side Story. Dans une ville imaginaire
appelée Galilée. La ville se compose de deux communautés contrastées. Une
réside sur les toits. Ils sont pauvres mais ils sont content et sans soucis.
L'autre se trouve sur le sol et est riche et puissante, mais pas heureux. La
connexion à West Side Story se produit lorsque Wax, un habitant sur le toit, rencontre
Starling, une actrice / chanteuse à l’avenir prometteur. Leur amour est testé lors d'une lutte pour le pouvoir s’éclate
dans l’Autorité de Logement de la Ville, une triade. Numéros de chants et de danses
lumineux, coloré et bien chorégraphiésDiscopath,
Canada 2013, 75m, Renaud Gauthier Classic low-budget slasher film with
the usual clichéd dialogue and bad acting. It is 1976; Disco music dominates the
charts. Duane Lewis works in a New York City hamburger joint. After being fired
for causing a fire, he encounters a young roller-skater who takes him to a
discotheque that evening. Bombarded by decibels, he kills her. The next
morning, he flies to Montreal. Four years later, working at a private school
for girls, it starts again when he kills two of the students after hearing them
play disco 45rpms. The ‘discopath’ has fully emerged and is on the rampage.

Thermae
Romae, Japan / Japon 2012, 108m, Hideki Takeuchi Even in the Rome of 128 A.D., it is difficult
to keep up with the times as Lucius Modestus, designer and builder of public bathhouses
realises, as he tours one of the more ‘modern’ ones. To escape the noise and
foolish behaviour, he jumps into the pool. He gets sucked into a vortex at the
bottom of the pool; emerging in a modern Japanese bathhouse. Confused by the
amazing innovations of these flat-faced people, he tries to make sense and apply
them to his own designs. A witty spin on the theme of time-travel comparing and
contrasting cultures.

Curse of
Chucky / La Malédiction de Chucky, United States / États-Unis 2013, 97m, Don
Mancini Returning for the sixth time,
America’s most terrifying yet lovable doll, unleashes, once again, bloodshed
and chaotic mayhem. Chucky is a Good Guy doll that has been possessed by serial
killer Charles Lee Ray. A mysterious package (with no return address) arrives
at Nica’s and her mother’s house.Her
mother dies mysteriously. Nica’s older sister and her family arrive to help
out. Nica’s niece begins to play with the doll.Strange things begin to happen. Nica suspects that the talking
red-haired doll had something to do with her mother’s death. Chucky has
returned to take care of unfinished business.

Number 10
Blues / Goodbye Saigon, Japan / Japon / Vietnam 2013, 97m, Norio Osada This pulp-fiction style action film
is set in 1975, just before the fall of Saigon. The film was actually shot at
this time, containing scenes of actual war footage. It was only recently completed.
Japanese businessman Toshio Sugimoto is living a life of leisure in Saigon. When
a Vietnamese man breaks-into his house, Sugimoto accidently kills him with the
man’s own gun. He is stripped of all privileges. At first he goes into hiding
but quickly realises that he must leave Vietnam. He must travel through
war-torn terrain accompanied by his girlfriend Lan and newfound ally Taro.

You're Next / Tu est le Prochain,United States / États-Unis 2011, 111m, Adam Wingard A home-invasion horror film that starts
off predictably; through surprisingly original plot twists, it becomes a
riveting on-the-edge-of-your-seat nightmarish blitzkrieg. The Davisons are
having a family reunion in their remote country house to celebrate the 35th
wedding anniversary of mom and dad.As
with most family reunions, sibling rivalries and neurosis abound. And this
night will end up being the worst one ever. During the evening meal, their home
comes under a vicious attack from a trio of men wearing animal masks using arrows,
knives and axes with the intent of slaughtering the whole family.

Since the Roswell incident, aliens have been secretly
hovering above the Earth’s atmosphere. Shortly thereafter it was discovered
that a chosen few were endowed with the ability to receive messages from them. Called
‘interfacers,’ they were recruited by the governments to relay these messages. When
Ash, one of the few remaining interfacers, isn’t relaying messages to an
insensitive military agent, he wanders the Melbourne’s streets cloaked in
anonymity and disconnection. Ash faces a
dilemma, to continue saving mankind or to begin saving himself. Receiving
messages is destroying him and an Earth-shattering message is about to be
transmitted.

Set
in an alternate Japan, this mixed bag of action, romance and comedy explores
the common theme of censorship that authorities claim is for the protection of
its citizens versus the right to freedom of expression. In 1989, the Media
Betterment Committee was formed to collect and burn books deemed harmful to
society. Resistance from the citizens leads the committee to use more
tyrannical methods of enforcement culminating in mass murder and destruction in
1999 with the Hino Massacre. A paramilitary group called the Library Defense
Force was formed to collect and protect books. Well-acted thus creating
engaging characters.

An
astronaut about to travel to a distant planet is being prepared to go into
cryogenic sleep. He understands that upon his return, he will have aged only
one year while everyone else will either be dead or in their senior years.

A
man struggling to move on after the accidental death of his son discovers that
his wife had cloned him. Un homme a du mal de se
remettre après que la mort accidentelle de son fils découvre que sa femme l’avait
cloné.

Temma, United States / États-Unis 2013, 17m, Anna Meksin

A
brilliant neuro-programmer struggles to finish a computational model of her
mind before she dies from a degenerative disease in order to be with her
family.

Behind the glitter of stardom
lurks the nightmare of a cancerous deformity is the concept explored in this
sensationally visual comedy, that progressively attains darker tones. LiLiCo is
an astronomically beautiful superstar model; adorning the covers of every
magazine, universal object of lust and idolatry of all who enter her orbit.
Initially showcasing her career against Tokyo’s neon landscape, it is quickly
revealed that she is actually manufactured. She has been undergoing surgical
procedures from a clinic that uses illegal substances. Side effects begin to
appear, the clinic is under investigation, and a younger rival appears on the
scene.

General Yang Ye (died 986), legendary hero to the Chinese
people, served the short-lived Northern Han Kingdom; in 979, pledged allegiance
to the Song Dynasty. This epic historical drama recounts what would turn out to
be his final battle and the valiant attempt by his seven sons to save him. When
the Khitans invade the Chinese mainland, Yang and Commander Song are sent to
launch an attack on them. Due to a personal grudge against Yang, Song retreats.
This leaves Yang stranded behind enemy lines. Yang’s seven sons promise their
mother that they would bring him back.

A Thought
for Robert / Une Pensée Pour Robert, Canada 2012, 2m37s, Patrick AubertFor his birthday, Robert receives
a special gift. He reacts unexpectedly. Pour son anniversaire, Robert reçoit un cadeau spécial. Il réagit d’une
façon inattendue. A Company
Man, South Korea / Corée du Sud 2012, 98m, Lim Sang-yoon Ji Hyeong-do works for a company
that on the surface looks like any other ordinary corporation but behind the
facade of regular office workers lies a secret organisation of professional
hit-men. Always meticulous, precise and reserved; completing his tasks without
question, his employers see him as a model employee. When his conscience
prevented him from killing a young temp at the end of a mission, his entire
life capsizes. Hyeong-do quickly realises that ‘retirement’ from the company is
not an option. He is now a target. An action-packed fast paced thriller about
revenge, betrayal and corporations.

A witch agrees to do an interview
on television in order to defend her-self, dispel a few stereotypes and to warn
men who don’t respect women. Une sorcière accepte de faire une interview à la télévision afin de se
défendre, de dissiper quelques stéréotypes et d'avertir les hommes qui ne
respectent pas les femmes.

The Lady
Assassin, Vietnam 2013, 100m, Quang Dzung Nguyen Duong Son Quan is an isolated
tavern in the middle of the Vietnamese countryside with a panoramic ocean view.
It is patronized by weary travellers searching for rest, food, and a good time
as it is managed by a group of beautiful young women. Yet concealed by their alluring
curved they are actually merciless assassins who target crooked businessmen and
corrupt government officials. The beauty of Vietnam is superbly captured by the
film’s breathtaking cinematography and its cast of jaw-dropping women. The
beautifully choreographed martial arts scenes are brilliantly and gracefully
executed.

OXV: The
Manual, England / Angleterre 2013, 105m, Darren Paul Fisher A scientific-philosophical
romance that explores the concept of free will versus predetermination – are we
a product of destiny or do we have choices or is it a combination? In an
alternate universe one’s destiny is dependent upon the frequency emitted – high
equals luck and superior intelligence; low equals a life condemned to endless
misery. When Zak sees Marie for the first time, he knows that she is the one he
wants to be with. Due to the opposite nature of their frequencies – he is very
low, she is very high – this is just a pipe-dream or is it?

Zero
Charisma, United States / États-Unis 2013, 88m, Katie Graham / Andrew Matthews Every week for 3 years, Scott has
been a passionate gamemaster, spending 20h per day writing the scenario for a Dungeons-and-Dragons style tabletop RPG.
He lives with his grandmother, angry at his
distant mother who makes sporadic annoying visits and is socially awkward alienating
everyone around him – a genuine nerd. His world comes crashing down when one
the participants has to leave (he is replaced by Miles), his grandmother has a
stroke and his mother comes to ‘help.’ A brilliantly written subtly acted
comedy with a dark edge, showing that even nerds must vie for their rightful
place.

The First
Hope, United States / États-Unis 2013, 12m, Jeremy David White

A story of firsts: impressions, kisses and love.

Une
histoire de premières : d’impressions, de baisers et d'amour.

How to Use Guys with Secret Tips,
South Korea / Corée du Sud 2012, 116m, Lee Won-suk A very funny romantic comedy,
with fantasy elements, that shows that inequality and sexism still exist in the
workplace. To advance upwards on the corporate ladder women must be willing to
use their sexuality; talent is not enough. Choi Bo-na, an assistant director in
the male-dominated field of commercial production, is overworked and
underappreciated. She hides her talent and beauty under a cocoon-like yellow
hoodie.After a harrowing commercial
shoot with egotistical star Lee Seong-jae, she is abandoned on a remote beach.
500$ later she now owns the entire video series How to Use Guys with
Secret Tips.

The Complex,
Japan / Japon 2013, 108m, Hideo Nakata Through the use of this tale
about a vengeful spirit, Hideo Nakata weaves a powerful statement about an
all-too-real social issue – formerly-prized apartment complexes deteriorating
due to neglect into slum dwellings whose tenants have little or no visibility;
their demise often going unnoticed until their smell of decay has risen to an
unbearable level. It also touches upon the theme that a childhood tragedy can
often trap an individual in the moment of that event. Achieves the usual level
of terror through the use of tightly controlled direction, bone-chilling sound
effects and music along with horrifying and creepy imagery.

The Weight,
South Korea / Corée du Sud 2012, 107m, Jeon
Kyu-hwan This slow-moving somewhat
cumbersome film deals with South Korea’s underbelly – inhabited by lost souls
searching for that diamond in the rough that could give them a sense of meaning
to their lives trapped by debilitating illnesses or being in the wrong body.
Jung, who is hunchbacked, tubercular and arthritic, applies make up upon the
dead to prepare them for burial. Other than their loved ones come to pay their
last respects, Jung welcomes a necrophilic biker and his transgender half-sister
Dong-bae.

The Last
Tycoon, China / Chine / Hong Kong 2012, 118m, Wong Jing The Last Tycoon is an epic crime drama loosely based on the life of Chinese triad
boss Du Yueshing (1888-1951) spanning the period between 1913 (the dawn of
China’s Republican era) till World War II. Cheng Daqi leaves his job at a fruit stall to
start a new life in Shanghai.There, he
meets Hong Shouting, the police chief and triad boss. Hong’s wife, impressed by
Cheng’s talents, convinces her husband to let him in the ranks. Cheng gradually rises through the ranks
eventually becoming an influential triad boss. A dignified well-written and
powerfully interpreted work.

I'll Follow
You Down, Canada 2013, 92m, Richie Mehta If science provided a way of
bringing a lost loved one back would you take it despite the risk of losing
all? In 1989, Gabriel, an Ivy League physicist, and Marika, Erol their
nine-year-old son and his grandfather Sal, also an Ivy League physicist, appear
to have everything. That is, until the day Gabriel mysteriously disappears, with
no explanation or clues as to his whereabouts. 12-years later, Erol has
followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. One day, Sal discovers
Gabriel’s project files and along with Erol is able to trace them back to his
place of disappearance.

Alex Mathis, a down-on-his-luck exterminator, rushes
to the hospital after being bitten by a poisonous spider. Not
long after, the army arrives placing the hospital under strict quarantine. A
bio-engineered spider has escaped from a bizarre body bag that had arrived at
the hospital earlier. Moving with terrifying speed, spewing face melting venom
and growing at an alarming rate the spider escapes containment to terrorise Los
Angeles. Alex Mathis is the only hope. The spider needs to be exterminated
before it reaches stage five – reproduction. This is a slick, satisfying and
comedic thrill ride.

This
epic crime-saga details the rise of the gangster in Thailand. The film is based
on real life iconic figures – Daeng Bireley and his best friend Jod. Deftly blending humane
melodrama with brutal street Khomsin has crafted a convincing, augmented by
interspersing clips of elderly people reminiscing about the period, film that
superbly shows criminal politics with the usual gangster fare: war, vengeance, and bloodshed. The film is
destined to take its place among the classics of the genre – Goodfellas, Once
upon a Time in America etc.

Due
to white collar corporate greed, the face of the earth was permanently altered.
Amidst the rubble the Council of Nine Rises was created with the objective of
locating and eliminating every white collar responsible – directly or
indirectly. To do this a death warrant would be issued with huge bounties. 20
years later some of these ‘bounty killers’ have become celebrities – among them
were The Drifter and Mary Death. A violent comedic post apocalyptic action film
that recalls the Mad Max movies sprinkled with Quentin Tarantino – an exciting
thrill ride guaranteed.

Because
of the brutal drug wars, all of the merchants in Juarez close their businesses
at sunset and narco-bloggers fight back by exposing information on the gangs.
This is what happens when the day comes that one must venture outside after
dark.

Sweetwater,
United States / États-Unis 2013, 94m, Logan Miller / Noah Miller An eccentric, paradoxical and
humorous Western that breaks away from the genre’s patriarchy: the main protagonist is a woman. Former
prostitute Sarah has just arrived in New Mexico with her Mexican husband Miguel
to settle down and start a family. Unfortunately society does not easily
forgive one’s past and rotten to the core. The couple find themselves in an
increasingly violent confrontation with a self-proclaimed prophet. Meanwhile a
radical and slightly insane sheriff arrives in town to bring justice. An
imaginative and witty debut feature with stellar, fearless and intense
performances from Ed Harris, January Jones and Jason Isaacs.

Ip Man: The
Final Fight / IP Man : Le Combat Final , China / Chine / Hong Kong 2012, 102m,
Herman Yau Ip Man (1893-1972) was a Chinese
martial artist mastering the techniques of Wing Chun. He was Bruce Lee’s
legendary master. Ip Man: The final Fight
is the fourth and final chapter in the biographical saga of this legendary
master of the martial arts. Though he is much older, the lethal combination of
virtue, wisdom and kung fu powers has not diminished. He is still able to face
his many challenges – poverty, rival schools and merciless gang lords. Dynamic well choreographed fight scenes.

The Grand Heist, South Korea / Corée du Sud 2012, 121m, Kim Joo-ho In the late 18th
century, during the last days King Yeongjo’s reign, ice was more precious than
gold and its possession meant power. A toy for the rich and a desperate craving
for the poor; stored in an underground warehouse and sold at exorbitant prices.
When corrupt officials conspire to form a monopoly and raise the price even
more, a rag-tag group of 11 develop an elaborate plan to steal the ice. This
very enjoyable and hilarious film is destined to take its place among other
classic films of this genre such as Oceans
11.

Miike’s latest is near-perfect exploitation cinema – a
psychopath with good looks, charm, popularity and an ability to solve problems
but underneath is consumed with a sinister plan to kill everyone. Mr Hasumi is
the most popular teacher at Shinko Academy but underneath he weaves his web –
manipulating some, blackmailing others and eliminating those who get in his
way. To Mr Hasumi, the students were like targets in an amusement park game. A
shocking and provocative film that is sure to raise eyebrows especially in
light of recent school shootings.

It's Me,
It's Me, Japan / Japon 2013, 119m, Satoshi Miki What would it be like if there
were many “Me”s – would we all get along; accomplish more; is there a limit to
the number of “Me”s;would we be jealous of one another and try to
“delete” them—the “imperfect ones”?This
quirky madcap dark and surreal comedy attempts to answer these questions. A
promising beginning gradually disintegrates into massive confusion.

Confessions
of Murder, South Korea / Corée du Sud 2012, 119m, Jung Byung-gil Tightly edited, well scripted comedy drama. Containing
many surprises, it tackles the absurdity of ‘statute of limitations’ laws and
revenge. In 1990, a serial killer terrorizes South Korea by taking the lives of
ten women. The killer escapes being arrested, leaving Detective Choi
with a facial scar. Unresolved before the 15-year statute of limitations, the
case file is closed. Two years later a book entitled ‘I Am the Killer’ written
by the handsome and well-spoken Lee Du-seok, generating a massive media buzz. This rekindles Choi’s consuming desire for
revenge and also that of a group of victim’s relatives.

The Meiji Restoration (ushered in by the Toba-Foshima battle
during the Boshin War,1868) allowed Japan to transform from a feudal to a modern industrial nation. It was at this
moment that the ruthless assassin Battousai decides to abandon his blood-soaked
past to seek peace and justice. His abandoned sword is picked up by a malevolent and mysterious
new owner.Ten years later , after
wandering the countryside, he settles at a swordsmanship training school run by
Kaoru. His quest for peace is shattered when a young woman with a secret recipe
for Opium escapes a ruthless crime boss, Takeda.

The Broken
Circle Breakdown, Belgium / Belgique / Netherlands / Pays-Bas 2012, 100m, Felix
van Groeningenn This heart-wrenching story is about
a couple, Didier and Elise, coping with the passing of their daughter, Maybelle from leukemia. The story, unfolding in a
non-linear manner, follows the couple’s highs and lows – from the moment they fall in love, Maybelle’s
birth, her diagnosis and subsequent death and how each parent copes with the
pain. Bluegrass music is central to the film. Didier played banjo in a band; Elise joining
later. Engaging and moving performances throughout. Expressing the full
spectrum of emotions, the film skillfully addresses one of the worst things
that could happen – the death of a child.

Animals,
Spain / Espagne 2012, 94m, Marçal Forés This complex multi-layered film addresses
teenaged anxieties and issues, as they pass from childhood to finding their
place as adults. The film contains elements of fantasy – the protagonist’s best
friend is a cuddly teddy bear named Deerhoof, who talks and plays drums. The
film takes on a darker edge when a young girl disappears, a mysterious newcomer
captures the imagination of our protagonist and students becoming rebellious and irrational giving into
destructive urges.

This is probably one of the most inept thrillers ever made. Every
aspect from the scenario, the editing, dialog and acting was terrible. It was
amusing at first but I quickly started longing for the end. As the film was
screening at midnight, I watched it on DVD in the afternoon. These types of
movies are best watched in the company of the typical Fantasia crowd, which
have often transformed the viewing of a really bad film (and I have seen a
great number) into an unforgettable viewing experience.

The
Conjuring, United States / États-Unis / Australia / Australie / Netherlands /
Pays-Bas 2013, 112m, James Wan Ed and Lorraine Warren had been investigating
cases of paranormal activity since 1952 (Amityville being their most
controversial). This chilling and horrifying fictionalised account based on true
events recounts their most petrifying case. It is 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron have just
moved into an old farmhouse in Harrisville Rhode Island with their five
daughters. At first this seemed like their ‘dream home’ but as the nightmarish
elements of the house and its history of agony and death become apparent, it
becomes clear that a dangerous and terrifying presence has taken hold seeking
only to destroy.

Shield of
Straw, Japan / Japon 2013, 125m, Takashi Miike The body of a seven-year-old girl
has been found in a sewage duct. She had been brutally sexually abused. DNA
revealed that Kunihide Kiyomaru, a repeat offender, as the murderer. The girl’s
grandfather wants Kiyomaru dead and he is willing to give out one billion yen if
all the conditions are met. Kiyomaru turns himself in to the Fukuoka police. A
special police unit led by Mekari and Shiraiwa are dispatched to bring him back
to Tokyo to stand trial. What ensues is an intense ‘moral dilemma’ tale where
the route to Tokyo is long and lined with danger.

Nancy's Books are sold on Kindle or you can email her at hovecreekproductions@gmail.com

Beyond the Dream: Epic Solitude - Nancy's collection of Poetry & short stories. Contact hovecreekproductions@gmail.com or Click on image to read article. Here is the link to Martin Barry's article: http://martincbarry.weebly.com. Book is also available on Amazon Kindle

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Nancy Snipper is also an accomplished singer/songwriter – banjo player and classical pianist. Her three CDs have garnered much media praise along with her performances (Canada, Mexico, Cuba). Her voice is astoundingly beautiful – velvety in her blues numbers, sensual and sizzling in her folk, rock and country compositions. Now you can own one of her CDs. For enquiries about owning her CDs and/or booking performances contact her at this email: hovecreekproductions@gmail.com. Her CDs help raise money for cancer research.

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Collaborators / Collaborateurs:

Sylvain Richard

Nancy Snipper

Note / Nota:

July 10, 2016:The beginning of a new and exciting chapter! Nancy Snipper's (a.k.a S.N.) first posting on her own blog: http://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.ca/**********************************************To see all articles on a specific topic, scroll down to LABELS and click on desired LABEL. Full articles will appear one after the other that pertain to that label.Keep scrolling down to view more articles, and at end of page, click on OLDER POSTS to read more.Enjoy!